For wounded veterans, the war goes on (Payments for Traumatic Losses)

[ProSense]

For wounded veterans, the war goes on

By Amy Buttell Crane • Bankrate.com

Since combat began in Afghanistan in October 2001, nearly 20,000 American military personnel have been wounded in action, according to the Defense Department. Many of these injuries have been life-threatening, requiring multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation and ongoing care.

But the immediate financial and logistical challenge of coping with the thousands of severely wounded is just the first problem military and civilian authorities face. Down the road, these active-duty and reservist military personnel will need employment, housing and health-care assistance for years to come. And with the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq continuing, with no end in sight, it is likely that more will be killed or wounded in action.

A study by the Insurance Information Institute, or III, reports that the average soldier in Iraq has a 1-in-300 chance of being wounded in action. Department of Defense statistics reveal that nearly 500 personnel are wounded in action in any given month. Extrapolating from these figures, the III study estimates that, absent a significant drawdown of troop strength in the near future, 60,000 to 80,000 troops may ultimately end up wounded.

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Finances are a potentially difficult burden for injured service members and their families. The military does provide a traumatic injury protection insurance benefit, which provides lump sum payouts anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000.

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There is a schedule of payouts on the VA's Web site.

more...

http://www.bankrate.com/gookeyword/news/pf/20060719a1.asp

[Monkeyman]

1. Ya but the payout has strings

If you take it your put on bottem of waiting list. If you put in claim for PTSD for the first time they are asking for buddy letters. Plus if you go to the VA your doing the two week dance. You go in see your first Doc. he tells you come back in two weeks ,you go back new doc same thing come back in two weeks. A lot of info is posted for veterans and their families on VA watchdog.org

[ProSense]

2. Thanks for adding that! There is also the string

of being wounded for life and having to deal with the VA bureaucracy.

[Monkeyman]

3. No Problem Brother

I fight for vets everyday. We are fight for about a dozen returning troops now. We have one great result a Marine with PTSD is the first case granted 100%. But most stories are still heartbreaking.

[ProSense]

5. Clips

VIDEO CLIPS FROM 'HIDDEN WOUNDS'


One correction: I'm a sister! :)

[Monkeyman]

4. I don't know if this link still works part of the problem

<www.nap.edu/catlog/11674.html#toc>.